A garden diary from the eastern tip of the Isle of Wight

Category Archives: Garden visits

Last weekend saw us staying at the fabulous National Trust ‘cottage’ ‘Portland House’ near Weymouth with the OH’s family to celebrate their mother’s 89th birthday.

Those of you in the UK may remember the weather that Friday was absolutely atrocious and, as I was the one who’d come up with both the idea of a weekend away, and found the property, the sound of 60mph winds howling and rain lashing down while we waited for everyone else to arrive made me think I’d made a very big mistake!

However, unbelievably, the scene that greeted us the following morning was this:

And, although there was plenty of rain during the weekend, there were also fabulous skies and quite a lot of sun – even enough to prompt me to suggest a visit to the Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens on the Sunday. This was another ‘bright’ idea I was starting to regret as the rain came down, but then the rain stopped, the sun came out and we all enjoyed some absolutely fabulous autumn colour in this really fascinating and well tended garden.

Unfortunately the ‘Magnolia Walk to views of the Jurassic Coastline was closed but, to be honest, there was so much else to see we weren’t perturbed.

The photos were only taken with my phone but I’m sure you’ll get the idea.

My sister was treated to a private visit for two to these lovely gardens, and I was lucky enough to accompany her.

Kay, the co-owner with her architect husband Patrick, opened the garden this August for the NGS for the first time and received 450 visitors! They have now added a number of ‘private visits’ to their calendar and this was the first.

The NGS entry gives a really good summary, so I’ve copied it in here:

Harefield’s own ‘secret garden’. 17th Century Renaissance walled gardens on the outskirts of Harefield Village, next to the beautiful medieval church of St Mary’s and Anzac war cemetery. The gardens are the only remaining part of the Harefield Place estate and incl a traditional kitchen garden and orchard. The gardens are presently undergoing extensive restoration having fallen into neglect and disrepair since the demolition of the original manor house in 1813. The kitchen garden has been run as an organic vegetable garden for 12 years with 56 raised beds in a beautiful geometric pattern. Since 2015, two 60m herbaceous borders and one double 20m herbaceous border have been created. Most recently a herb garden of more unusual herbs has been added. The orchard is an incredibly rare Renaissance ‘pleasure’ garden, with the remains of a terrace and unique arcaded wall, which was replanted as a cobnut nuttery over 100 years ago.

I was a little concerned, bearing in mind the time of year (and the rather sad state of my own garden) there might not be much to see, but there was beyond plenty! I believe, even in the winter, there would still be considerable interest because of the very strong structure.

This is an aerial photo Kay gave me as part of my ‘private visit pack’ and clearly shows the layout of the main walled garden.

The top right quadrant (with the pallets) will house a new metal framed fruit cage and the area to the right of that, heading off the picture, will eventually have a large lean to greenhouse against the wall at the right hand end of the garden.

The garden has walls on three sides (in the picture above they are the top, bottom and right hand end, representing (very roughly) the west, north and easterly boundaries.

The beautiful wall below is on the eastern boundary, facing west.

I just adored the grass – Pennisetum ‘Red Head’.

The polytunnel, next to this wall, was still full of tomatoes, chillis

and an interesting take on greenhouse shading – a wonderful tangle of climbers:

And, in addition to work to be done,

there was a fabulous display of work successfully completed!

Outside to the two small herbaceous borders, together with their four matching pampas grasses.

Here I admired the elegant Acidanthera murielae

and the rather more jazzy Gaillardia ‘Burgundy’

On to the 56 Veg Beds and they were a carnival of yellows and oranges due to the companion planting of Calendula (top picture) Borage and Nasturtiums. Kay gardens organically and is a follower of permaculture and so companion planting is important for pest control, pollination (and it looks gorgeous!)

And of course, when I’d worried about there not being enough to see, I hadn’t envisaged such a magnificent pumpkin patch, clearly at its peak just before Hallowe’en.

Beyond the walled garden there is yet more interest.

Firstly, the extraordinary ‘Organ Pipe Bed’. The pipes really are organ pipes from the church next door. The bed is northerly and so planted with hostas and shade tolerant shrubs.

And further from the house still is this ‘arcaded wall’ which appears to be unique in England. See description the below.

To finish I’ve got two questions – 1. how does Kay find time to work, tend the existing garden, continue with the restoration and read all these books?

And 2. does she ever sit down?

With thanks to Kay and Patrick for sharing their beautiful garden (and fascinating project) and to Elizabeth for treating us to such a lovely day.

Not only do my lovely neighbours open their garden for the St Helens Secret Gardens event which takes place every other year, but on their year off, rather than put their feet up, they open in aid of the Red Cross – and not once, but twice! I missed their opening in May and so was delighted to pop along this afternoon.

My actual birthday was a Monday, so, having visited Petersham Nurseries the day before, I was back at work. However, in search of a flowery treat on the day itself, I availed myself of a ‘Friends of Kew’ perk – being eligible to visit from 8am (ahead of the normal opening time of 10am).

I must have visited Kew Gardens hundreds of times having lived in the area for over 25 years, but of course visits have been much rarer since we moved to the Isle of Wight ten years ago. This time I was particularly interested to see two things

2. to see the recently reopened Temperate House, which has been closed since 2013 undergoing significant restoration.

I wasn’t disappointed. Not only was I blessed with the most glorious morning, but Kew was looking as beautiful as I think I’ve ever seen it, and there was an added joy in having it largely to ourselves.

We entered through the main, Victoria Gate, and walked first around the back of the Palm House through the rose garden. Of course it was the perfect time of year for this as shown above.

Just before the flaaars, see below the signage Kew has put in place to communicate the planting. Whilst I completely applaud and appreciate the intention, personally I don’t find these the easiest to read – and I know what most of the plants look like! I particularly don’t like the rather distorted photos for some of the blooms, but that’s a tiny niggle for what was an absolutely stellar display.

Whilst the planting was fabulous, I was also blown away by Kew’s amazing trees which make such a superb backdrop. Obviously these have been there for decades, but it’s interesting that I seem to notice trees, on all garden visits, more than I used to. Perhaps it’s an age thing!

From the long borders we walked back past the Princess of Wales conservatory to visit the spot where my mother’s ashes are scattered (officially, in case you were wondering!)

And then, as time was ticking on, a stomp the not trivial distance to the Temperate House, which was looking absolutely stunning.

It took a little while to gain access as it was largely still locked, but a walk around the back, past the turfing activities (!) and we were in.

I thought I’d posted about Petersham Nurseries before, but can’t see that I did. It holds a rather special place in my heart – partly because it’s right next to the church where the OH and I (and my parents!) were married, and secondly I love its ‘accidental’ success.

My understanding is that the old, rather uninspiring nursery was bought by the owners of Petersham House (which is adjacent to it) as they were concerned it would be sold for development. Fast forward twenty (?) years, and not only is it now a thriving foodie and lifestyle destination, but an off shoot has recently opened in Covent Garden.

As life continues to get in the way of blogging, the visit actually took place on Sunday 10th June when we went for lunch in the tea house. The only purchase I succumbed to was a white passion flower – I think it’s Constance Elliot – but inspiration (especially for container planting) was everywhere – and free!

Before we even start talking about the High Line, I just have to record my total admiration for Chesley Sullenberger, the pilot who landed an Airbus 320 on the Hudson River (above), in which all 155 passengers and crew survived with only minor injuries. It was an astonishing feat and, strolling along the High Line looking out over the Hudson and watching the helicopters buzzing about, reminded me of the film and brought home just what a feat it was. It was properly choppy out there! It’s not that wide! And lastly, it’s a RIVER! Hello! What a guy. If you haven’t seen the film (‘Sully’) just do.

I was in New York with my daughter to celebrate the end of her her degree. I’d taken both ‘kids’ to New York for their first time a few years ago and she absolutely loves it. She’s now been back twice without me and had, in fact, already walked the High Line. However, bearing in mind I was (largely!) paying, she indulged me with another visit. I have to say it’s been on my bucket list since I was first aware of it and it didn’t disappoint. Having said that, the planting – designed by Piet Oudolf – is deliberately low key, with the aim to maintain a sense of the ‘feel’ of the line when it was abandoned and overgrown, and therefore it’s not ‘flowery’ in a conventional sense.

However, despite this, I loved it. I loved the vision of ‘re-purposing’ an urban space (a disused railway) in such a bold way, and I loved the way it meandered above the city streets and brought greenery and beauty to what must previously have been an eyesore. I couldn’t get over how many thousands of people now had this amazing green ribbon to admire.

The first section opened in 2009 and many trees are now becoming really mature adding shade, scale with some fabulous specimens of Cercis and Cornus amongst others.

In places, the original railway lines have been left, and the planting is around and amongst them.

Not long after my walking holiday to Italy, where I visited the stunning Villa Cimbrone, I headed to Scotland, staying with friends for a more relaxing holiday, walking and garden visiting.

My favourite garden was the privately owned ‘An Cala’. The garden was established in 1930 by Colonel Arthur Murray who had inherited a cottage outside the village of Ellenabeich on the Isle of Seil in Argyll. He decided (with his new wife, the actress Faith Celli) to commission Thomas Mawson to draw up plans for their 5 acre plot.

It took a year to convert the terrain into a garden, including dynamiting bedrock, importing thousands of tons of topsoil, and creating terraces, walls, steps, paths and lawns.

Once the structure was in place, the Murrays planted up the beds and woodland using the acid loving plants including azaleas, rhododendrons, Japanese ornamental cherry trees and their great love, roses.

Whilst I visited a number of gardens, all reflecting the acid soil, it was this one that I loved. The plant palette had been broadened to include more herbaceous planting, as well as bulbs. As I’ve noted before, I’m not a big fan of ‘stiff’ plants, and to me azaleas and rhodos fall into that category and therefore I did struggle to really love the other gardens. An Cala was different, not least because of the incredible engineering feat to make it in the first place, but more especially because of the more varied planting – and the wonderful use of water, coupled with stunning views.

Pictures from the fir cone house! The small building was built rather like a shell house, but instead of shells, there was an astonishing arrangement of different fir cones.

Fabulous peony.

The motto on this bench particularly struck me as our lovely hosts have planted some wonderful trees in their garden since they moved to Scotland five or so years ago.

With thanks to the Scottish Gardens scheme (the Scottish equivalent of the NGS) and An Cala for sharing such a wonderful Scottish gem.